Honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus

ABSTRACT

In general this apparatus includes means for removing the wax caps from honeycombs, moving the decapped combs from the decapping means into apparatus for extracting the honey from the decapped combs and moving the empty combs from the extracting apparatus for cleaning, if necessary, and replacement in the hives. More specifically, the apparatus has a plurality of extracting units disposed in side-by-side relation, each unit having a cylindrical casing with a rotatable reel inside. The reel has guide tracks for receiving and holding decapped combs while rotative movement is imparted to the reel to centrifuge the honey from the combs. Drive means serve to alternately rotate the reels, and while each reel is stationary a decapping device is registered with a loading station of the extractor and operated to decap the combs and load them onto the stationary reel. The loading operation also serves to unload the empty combs onto a conveyor holder from which they can be removed for transportation to and replacement in the hives. The apparatus is semiautomatic in operation, the filled combs being manually loaded into the decapping device, which is manually moved from one extractor unit to another, and the empty combs are manually unloaded from the conveyor holder.

United States Patent [191 Cowen Feb. 5, 1974 HONEYCOMB DECAPPING ANDHONEY EXTRACTING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: John F. Cowen, PO. Box 206,

Parowan, Utah 84761 22 Filed: July 28,1972

21 Appl. No.: 276,047

[52] U.S. Cl....; 6/12 A [51] Int. Cl AOlk 51/00 [5 8] Field of Search6/12 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,535,721 10/1970Bell, Jr 6/12 A Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J.Q. Lever Attorney, Agent, or FirmHerschel C. Omohundro [57] ABSTRACT Ingeneral this apparatus includes means for removing the wax caps fromhoneycombs, moving the decapped combs from the decapping means intoapparatus for extracting the honey from the decapped combs and movingthe empty combs from the extracting apparatus for cleaning, ifnecessary, and replacement in the hives. More specifically, theapparatus has a plurality of extracting units disposed in side-by-siderelation, each unit having a cylindrical casing with a rotatable reelinside. The reel has guide tracks for receiving and holding decappedcombs while rotative movement is imparted to the reel to centrifuge thehoney from the combs. Drive means serve to alternately rotate the reels,and while each reel is stationary a decapping device is registered witha loading station of the extractor and operated to decap the combs andload them onto the stationary reel. The loading operation also serves tounload the empty combs onto a conveyor holder from which they can beremoved for transportation to and replacement in the hives. Theapparatus is semiautomatic in operation, the filled combs being manuallyloaded into the decapping device, which is manually moved from oneextractor unit to another, and the empty combs are manually unloadedfrom the conveyor holder.

20 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB SIBH SHEEI 2 (1F 4 HONEYCOMBDECAPPING AND HONEY EXTRACTING APPARATUS SUMMARY This invention relatesgenerally to bee keeping and the production of honey, and morespecifically to providing apparatus which is useful in removing thehoney after the bees have accumulated and stored it in the hives. Stillmore specifically, the invention relates to the removal of the waxcapping applied to the cells in a honeycomb and the extraction of thehoney from the decapped combs.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide apparatuswhich is semiautomatic in operation and relatively simple inconstruction so that it will be comparatively inexpensive, thus suitablefor acquisition and use by the small operators.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple unit forextracting honey which may be used in combination with honeycombdecapping apparatus of the type shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No.3,609,780, issued Oct. 5, 1971, a plurality of extracting units beingcombined with a single comb decapper whereby one or not in excess of twooperators can most efficiently service a predetermined number of hives.

Another object of the invention is to provide a honey extracting unithaving a rotatable reel on which a relatively large group of decappedhoneycombs can be held while the reel is rotated at a rate sufficient tocentrifuge the honey from the combs, a casing being provided around thereel to collect the honey and conduct it to an outlet.

Still another object of this invention is to provide at least two of theunits mentioned in the preceding paragraph in side-by-side relationshipand dispose a comb decapping device, of the type shown in my patentreferred to previously, for movement between positions to load each ofthe units, one unit being loaded with decapped combs while the reel ofthe other unit previously loaded is being rotated or spun to centrifugethe honey from the combs held therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide the combinationmentioned in the preceding paragraph with a novel drive means which ischaracterized by its simplicity, a motor driven variable speedtransmission with drive pulleys being mounted for rocking movement, adriven pulley being connected with each reel and registering with adrive pulley, an endless belt extending around each driven pulley andthe corresponding drive pulley, and actuating means for rocking thetransmission to alternately establish a driving relation between a driveand driven pulley to spin the selected reel.

An object also of the invention is to provide the combination mentionedin the two preceding paragraphs with brake means for reducing the speedof the spinning reel and stopping it in selected loading positions.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a perusal ofthefollowing description of one form of the invention selected forillustration in detail in the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of Honeycomb Decapping andHoney Extracting Apparatus formed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the apparatus, theplane of the section being on the axis of one unit of the honeyextracting means with a comb decapping device in the loading position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a portion of the combdecapping device;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the comb decappingdevice on the plane indicated by the line IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through one unit of thehoney extracting means on the plane indicated by the line VV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the back end of the apparatusillustrating more particularly the driving means for the honeyextracting apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken through the driving means onthe plane indicated by the line VII- -VII of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a detailed elevational view showing a braking means used tostop and hold stationary a reel in the honey extracting apparatus.

DESCRIPTION More particular reference to the drawings will disclose thatthe Honeycomb Decapping and Honey Extracting Apparatus of the inventiongenerally includes two major parts. The first part comprises a honeycombdecapping device 10 and the second major part is a honey extractingapparatus 11.

The honeycomb decapping device 10 may be of various suitable types, theone preferred being that shown in my US. Pat. No. 3,609,780 dated Oct.5, 1971, to which reference may be made for a detailed description, theillustration and description included herein being only that necessaryfor a complete understanding of the present combination. As pointed outin the objects, the honeycomb decapping device is designed to receivethe filled honeycombs as they come from the hives, pass them between apair of heated reciprocating knives to decap the cells, and move thedecapped combs into the extracting apparatus 11. Personnel familiar withbee keeping and honey production are aware that commercial honeycombscomprise rectangular open wood frames 12, the ends of the top'bar ofwhich project slightly beyond the end bars of the frame to provide lugs13. These lugs support the combs in the hive and are also used tosupport the combs in the decapping and extracting apparatus of theinvention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the decapping device is suspended from anoverhead rail 14 for movement between positions for loading decappedcombs into one or the other of two extracting units making up theapparatus 11. In general, the decapping device 10 has spaced side frames15 which rotatably support a plurality of transversely extending shaftsl6, l7 and 18. Adjacent their ends at the inner sides of the frames 15the shafts l6, l7 and 18 are equipped with sprockets 19 around which aretrained endless chains 20. The shafts 16 and 17 with their sprockets arearranged near the front and rear of the lower ends of the frames 15 toprovide horizontal strands of chains, while shaft 18 is adjacent theupper ends of the frames to provide vertically downwardly movingoperating strands at the front of the frames and upwardly moving returnstrands at the rear thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, shaft 17 extendsbeyond the frame at the right side and is equipped with another sprocket21 to receive a drive chain 22 also trained around an output sprocket 23provided on a transmission 24. This transmission has an input shaft 25and pulley 26 by which power is transmitted to the decapper from a motor27. Since the sprockets 19 are fixed to the shafts and the chains extendaround and mesh with the sprocket teeth the chains will move at the samespeed. Suitable means may be provided to vary such speed as desired.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show that bars 28 extend between the chains atpredetermined spaced intervals. These bars serve to move the honeycombsduring the operations of decapping and loading them into the honeyextracting apparatus. The decapping device is provided at the front withan automatic feeder 29 onto which the filled combs 30 are manuallyplaced. The feeder then feeds them one at a time into the decapper. Asit is fed into the decapper, each honeycomb is resiliently held by aspring-pressed pivoted strip 31 between the moving chains until one ofthe bars 28 engages the top of the honeycomb and moves it downwardly.Suitable guide members 32 at the badk of the vertical strands of chainsteady the honeycomb until it is engaged by the bar 28. As the honeycombis moved downwardly, the lower portion is centered by guides 33 at thefront and rear sides of the chains. At this time also feeler extensions34 which are disposed at the ends and project upwardly beyond thedecapping knives 35, engage the comb frame at the ends and position theknives relative to the comb to trim only the wax cap from the cells.

As shown in the patent referred to above, the knives 35 are supported onhollow manifolds 36 which receive steam or hot water through flexibletubes 37. Heating the knives assists in separating the caps from thecombs as well as the dropping of the separated caps from the knives intoa suitable receptacle. As shown in FIG. 4 and in the patent mentionedabove, the knives are supported for longitudinal reciprocation by pins38 extending through bushings 39 provided in the frames 15. At one endeach pin 38 and consequently its corresponding knife is urged in onedirection by spring means 40. At the opposite end cam means 41 on shaft25 engage the pins to move the pins and knives in the oppositedirection. The cam means 41 are timed so that the knives move inopposite directions at any instant. After a comb is passed between theknives and the wax is skived off the cells, the comb is directed bycurved guides 42 onto horizontal rails 43 of the decapper dischargeconveyor 44. It will be noted that the decapped combs collect on therails 43 and are moved by the bars 28 as the decapped combs are pushedout of the decapper device.

it has previously been pointed out that the decapper is suspended andmay be moved manually from a position of registration with oneextracting unit 45 to a position registering with a second extractingunit. In the embodiment of the invention shown, two extracting units 45make up the apparatus 11. These units are substantially identical andare arranged in side-by-side relationship.

Each unit 45 has an exterior casing 46 which is preferably ofcylindrical shape and disposed in horizontal position. The casing may(as shown) be of upper and lower sections 47 and 48, respectively, forconvenience of manufacture and maintenance. Suitable framework 49supports the lower sections 48, and the upper sections 47 may beremovably positioned thereon. The latter sections have rectangularopenings 50 and 51 in the end walls to form the loading and unloadingstations 52 and 53. In the use of the apparatus the decapping device 10is alternately registered with the loading stations 52. Suitable hookmeans 54 may automatically lock the decapper in the loading stationuntil the loading operation has been completed, then the operator maytrip a handle 55 to release the hook means 54.

Each casing 46 houses a spinner reel 56 which is supported for rotationon the axis of the casing by bearings 57 secured to the framework 49.Each spinner reel has a central shaft 58 journalled in the bearings 57and provided within the casing with hubs 59. Spokes 60 radiate from thehubs and at their outer ends support honeycomb holders 61 which make upthe periphery of the spinner reel. The holders 61 are made of lengths 62of angle iron arranged in pairs spaced in predetermined relationship bytraversely extending strips 63 secured to the outer sides of the angleirons. Angle iron braces 64 extend between and are welded at their endsto the angle irons 62 of adjacent sides of the holders. The spokes 60are secured to certain of the braces 64 to complete the reel. From FIG.5 it will be seen that the inner edges of the side flanges of each pairof angle irons 62 are bent inwardly of the holder and then slightlyoutwardly to provide rails 65 of hooklike cross section. These rails 65receive the lugs 13 on the ends of the honeycombs and support the latteron the reel 56. It will be obvious that a multiplicity of combs can beassembled on each holder 61. In the form of the invention illustrated,each reel has four holders 61 disposed 90 apart around the axis of thereel. This arrangement places the holders in oppositely disposed pairsfor a purpose which will be pointed out later. Pivoted locking fingers66 may be provided for movement over the ends of rails 65 to prevent theaccidental displacement of combs from the holders during the spinningoperations.

As previously pointed out, the decapping device is aligned or registerswith a loading opening in one of the extracting units when thehoneycombs are being decapped. The rails 43 of the discharge conveyor 44of the decapper are aligned with the rails 65 of a holder 61 and as thedecapped combs are moved, either by the operation of the chains in thedecapper or manually, they will slide along the rails 65 of the holder61. When a sufficient number of the combs are in place, the reel may berevolved to locate an empty holder in registration with the loadingopening and this holder can then be loaded. After all four holders areloaded, the reel is rotated or spun at the rate required to centrifugethe honey from the decapped combs. This honey impinges and collects onthe inner surface of the casing and flows by gravity to a trough 67 atthe bottom of the casing. Suitable receptacles are provided at thedischarge ends of the troughs 67.

To effect the rotation or spinning of the reels, a drive means,designated generally at 68 in FIG. 6, has been provided. Drive means 68may be located at the end of the extractor means opposite the decapperdevice 10. The drive 68 includes a motor 70 and variable speedtransmission 71, the latter having an output shaft 72 with a spaced pairof pulleys 73. The motor 70 and transmission 71 are mounted for rockingmovement in response to pivotal action of a lever 74 with a weight 75 atthe free end. Weight 75 and lever 74 may be swung from one side of thepivotal axis of the motor and transmission mount to the other to renderone or the other of pulleys 73 effective. The remaining pulley is thusrendered ineffective. Pulleys 73 alternately serve via belts 76 and 77to drive other pulleys 78 and 79 and in turn the reels connectedtherewith. Brake devices 80 are provided to selectively resist and holdpulleys 78 and 79 against rotation. Each device 80 includes a shoe 81mounted for pivotal movement into or out of engagement with therespective pulley 78 or 79. Actuating arms 82 are employed to effect theoperation of the brake devices. It should be clear that through themanipulation of a selected arm 82the respective reel can be stopped andheld in the desired position for loading decapped combs and unloadingcombs from which the honey has been extracted. The latter combs arepushed from the reel being loaded by the decapped combs. As the emptycombs are pushed from the reel, they slide onto rails 83 of a conveyorholder disposed in registration with the unloading opening 51 in therear end wall of the casing. It is obvious that the conveyor holder maybe stationarily mounted or supported for movement from oneextractor unitto the other. If stationary, a conveyor holder for each extractor unitwould be required. If movable, suitable means for locking the conveyorin position to receive the combs being unloaded would be desired.

The construction of the apparatus having been described above, theoperation thereof may be briefly summarized as follows:

The honeycombs as taken from the hives may be placed on the automaticdecapper feeder 29 by engaging the lugs 13 with spaced stretches ofchain to suspend the combs therebetween. The combs are thenautomatically removed one at a time from the inner end of the feeder 29and moved downwardly by the bars 28 of the decapper between thereciprocating knives 35 which cut the thin wax seal from the front andback surfaces of the comb. After the comb has passed between the knives,it is moved over the rails 43 of the decapper discharge conveyor 44 andthrough the loading opening of the extractor 11 with which the decapperhad previously been registered. The decapped combs are slid one afterthe other into a holder 61 on a spinner reel 56 within the extractorcasing. When sufficient combs, usually 26 to 28, have been disposed onthe first holder, the brake 80 thereof will be released and the reelwill turn due to the weight of the combs until the first holder is atthe lower portion of the casing. Such movement will dispose the oppositeholder on that reel in registration with the loading opening to receivea load of decapped combs. This operation is repeated until all fourholders on the particular reel are loaded. At this time the brake 80 maybe released and the lever 74 with weight 75 swung over center to tightenthe belt 76 or 77 around pulley 73 and the pulley 78 or 79 secured tothe shaft of the reeljust loaded. This operation initiates spinningmovement of the loaded reel and renders the drive to the other reelineffective. The loaded reel will he revolved at the rate required tocentrifuge the honey from the decapped combs. While such reel is beingspun, the reel in the other casing can be loaded and ready for spinningwhen the honey has been eX- tracted from the combs previously loaded. Asubstantially continuous process is thus secured.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for decapping honeycombs and extracting honey therefrom,comprising:

a. decapping means having feeding and discharge regions;

b. conveyor means extending between such regions to move honeycombs fromthe former to the latter region;

c. means adjacent said conveyor means between said feeding and dischargeregions for removing the wax caps from the cells of honeycombs movingbetween said regions;

d. honey extracting means disposed adjacent the discharge region of saiddecapping means, said extracting means having decapped comb receivingand holding elements;

6. means forming a part of said extracting means and supporting saidcomb receiving and holding elements for rotary movement;

f. drive means connected with and rotating said supporting means at aspeed sufficient to centrifuge honey from said decapped combs; and

g. collector means surrounding said comb receiving and holding elementsto collect the honey centrifuged from said combs.

2. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 1 inwhich a plurality of honey extracting means are provided and saiddecapping means is supported for selectively registering the dischargeregion thereof with any one of said honey extracting means.

3. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 1 inwhich the decapped comb receiving and holding elements are constructedto hold a multiplicity of honeycombs.

4. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 1 inwhich the means for supporting said decapped comb receiving and holdingelements is a reel-shaped member constructed to receive a plurality ofgroups of decapped honeycombs.

5. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 4 inwhich the reel-shaped member is constructed to position said groups ofhoneycombs in pairs disposed diametrically opposite relative to the axisof rotation.

6. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 2 inwhich the honey extracting means are disposed in side-by-siderelationship and the decapping means is supported for movement from onehoney extracting means to the other for loading the same.

7. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 2 inwhich each honey extracting means has a cylindrical casing, areel-shaped member supported for rotary movement in said casing andhaving spaced sets of guide tracks for receiving and holding thehoneycombs, the drive means being operative to selectively rotate thereel-shaped members of said honey extracting means.

8. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 7 inwhich the drive means is operative to vary the speed of rotation of saidreel-shaped members.

9. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 7 inwhich each reel-shaped memher has four sets of guide tracks arranged 90apart around the axis of rotation thereof.

10. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 7 inwhich the drive means has brake means for selectively holding eachreel-shaped member in a desired position of rotation.

11. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 7 inwhich the reel-shaped members are disposed for rotation about horizontalaxes.

12. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 1 inwhich the honey extracting means has a horizontally disposed cylindricalcasing with end walls; a reel member supported in said casing forrotation about the axis thereof; a plurality of sets of guide tracks onsaid reel member for receiving and holding the honeycombs duringrotation of said reel member, said sets of guide tracks being angularlyspaced about the axis of rotation of said reel member; and loading andunloading openings in the opposite end walls of said casing, the sets ofguide tracks on said reel member registering with said loading andunloading openings in predetermined position of rotation of said reelmember.

13. Apparatus for extracting honey from decapped honeycombs, comprising:

a. a casing having end walls and a peripheral wall extendingtherebetween, the end walls having loading and unloading openings;

b. a reel member supported in said casing for rotation about an axisextending longitudinally of said cas- 0. sets of guide tracks extendingaxially of said reel member, said sets receiving and holding decappedcombs and being spaced angularly about the axis of rotation of said reelmember; and

d. drive means for rotating said reel member at a speed sufficient tocentrifuge honey from decapped honeycombs held thereon.

14. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 13 in which the casing iscylindrical and the axis of rotation of said reel member issubstantially concentric with the casing.

15. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 14 in which the axes of thecasing and reel member is substantially horizontal.

16. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 13 in which the sets ofguide tracks on the reel member comprise oppositely facing angleelements with inturned flanges for receiving and holding de'cappedhoneycombs, the reel member also having crossbars between the angleelements for reinforcement and radially extending rods to connectcertain crossbars with a center rod structure.

17. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 13 in which the drive meanshas a motor; a variable speed transmission with an output pulley; adriven pulley connected with the reel member; and an endless beltextending around said output and driven pulleys.

18. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 17 in which the variablespeed transmission is mounted for rocking movement to vary the effectivedistance between the axes of said output and driven pulleys; and weightmeans are provided to selectively bias said transmission in onedirection increase the distance between said pulleys and in oppositedirection to decrease such distance.

19. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 17 in which brake means areprovided to reduce the speed of rotation of said reel member and secureit in predetermined positions of rotary movement.

20. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 19 in which said brake meanshas a shoe for engaging the driven pulley and means for moving the shoeinto and out of engagement with said driven pulley.

1. Apparatus for decapping honeycombs and extracting honey therefrom,comprising: a. decapping means having feeding and discharge regions; b.conveyor means extending between such regions to move honeycombs fromthe former to the latter region; c. means adjacent said conveyor meansbetween said feeding and discharge regions for removing the wax capsfrom the cells of honeycombs moving between said regions; d. honeyextracting means disposed adjacent the discharge region of saiddecapping means, said extracting means having decapped comb receivingand holding elements; e. means forming a part of said extracting meansand supporting said comb receiving and holding elements for rotarymovement; f. drive means connected with and rotating said supportingmeans at a speed sufficient to centrifuge honey from said decappedcombs; and g. collector means surrounding said comb receiving andholding elements to collect the honey centrifuged from said combs. 2.The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 1 inwhich a plurality of honey extracting means are provided and saiddecapping means is supported for selectively registering the dischargeregion thereof with any one of said honey extracting means.
 3. Thehoneycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 1 in whichthe decapped comb receiving and holding elements are constructed to holda multiplicity of honeycombs.
 4. The hoNeycomb decapping and honeyextracting apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for supporting saiddecapped comb receiving and holding elements is a reel-shaped memberconstructed to receive a plurality of groups of decapped honeycombs. 5.The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 4 inwhich the reel-shaped member is constructed to position said groups ofhoneycombs in pairs disposed diametrically opposite relative to the axisof rotation.
 6. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatusof claim 2 in which the honey extracting means are disposed inside-by-side relationship and the decapping means is supported formovement from one honey extracting means to the other for loading thesame.
 7. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim2 in which each honey extracting means has a cylindrical casing, areel-shaped member supported for rotary movement in said casing andhaving spaced sets of guide tracks for receiving and holding thehoneycombs, the drive means being operative to selectively rotate thereel-shaped members of said honey extracting means.
 8. The honeycombdecapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 7 in which the drivemeans is operative to vary the speed of rotation of said reel-shapedmembers.
 9. The honeycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus ofclaim 7 in which each reel-shaped member has four sets of guide tracksarranged 90* apart around the axis of rotation thereof.
 10. Thehoneycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 7 in whichthe drive means has brake means for selectively holding each reel-shapedmember in a desired position of rotation.
 11. The honeycomb decappingand honey extracting apparatus of claim 7 in which the reel-shapedmembers are disposed for rotation about horizontal axes.
 12. Thehoneycomb decapping and honey extracting apparatus of claim 1 in whichthe honey extracting means has a horizontally disposed cylindricalcasing with end walls; a reel member supported in said casing forrotation about the axis thereof; a plurality of sets of guide tracks onsaid reel member for receiving and holding the honeycombs duringrotation of said reel member, said sets of guide tracks being angularlyspaced about the axis of rotation of said reel member; and loading andunloading openings in the opposite end walls of said casing, the sets ofguide tracks on said reel member registering with said loading andunloading openings in predetermined position of rotation of said reelmember.
 13. Apparatus for extracting honey from decapped honeycombs,comprising: a. a casing having end walls and a peripheral wall extendingtherebetween, the end walls having loading and unloading openings; b. areel member supported in said casing for rotation about an axisextending longitudinally of said casing; c. sets of guide tracksextending axially of said reel member, said sets receiving and holdingdecapped combs and being spaced angularly about the axis of rotation ofsaid reel member; and d. drive means for rotating said reel member at aspeed sufficient to centrifuge honey from decapped honeycombs heldthereon.
 14. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 13 in which thecasing is cylindrical and the axis of rotation of said reel member issubstantially concentric with the casing.
 15. The honey extractingapparatus of claim 14 in which the axes of the casing and reel member issubstantially horizontal.
 16. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 13in which the sets of guide tracks on the reel member comprise oppositelyfacing angle elements with inturned flanges for receiving and holdingdecapped honeycombs, the reel member also having crossbars between theangle elements for reinforcement and radially extending rods to connectcertain crossbars with a center rod structure.
 17. The honey extractingapparatus of claim 13 in which the drive means has a motor; a variablespeed transmission with an oUtput pulley; a driven pulley connected withthe reel member; and an endless belt extending around said output anddriven pulleys.
 18. The honey extracting apparatus of claim 17 in whichthe variable speed transmission is mounted for rocking movement to varythe effective distance between the axes of said output and drivenpulleys; and weight means are provided to selectively bias saidtransmission in one direction increase the distance between said pulleysand in opposite direction to decrease such distance.
 19. The honeyextracting apparatus of claim 17 in which brake means are provided toreduce the speed of rotation of said reel member and secure it inpredetermined positions of rotary movement.
 20. The honey extractingapparatus of claim 19 in which said brake means has a shoe for engagingthe driven pulley and means for moving the shoe into and out ofengagement with said driven pulley.